Come on England!! No goals conceded and into the final 8. Well done.
England - Euro 2021 Discussion | FA chairman: Southgate to be offered new contract until Euro 2024
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Great win today. The setup was spot on and England managed the game perfectly. For the next match I hope Southgate rotates a bit. Grealish, foden, Henderson, chilwell should come in the freshen up the team
Lifetime contract now
Still wouldn't make us favourites with either an in form Italy or the no 1 side in the world likely to come through the other side of the draw and certainly shouldn't underestimate the wave of emotion that the Danes are riding on our side either, having said all that IF we could somehow win these two games and it won't be easy then who would you say we have the best chance of beating out of Italy/Belgium/Spain.
Given the fact that both semis and the final are at Wembley, I'd consider us at least joint favourites. But yeah, it's going to be tough either way. Denmark beat us at Wembley not that long ago.
Think England comfortably beat Spain and Italy.
I absolutely dread to think about the quality of match against Spain. Whoever wins, the viewers lose. But I also think of the three they’d be the “easiest”. I’d have us favourites.
I find Belgium to be a bit Jekyll and Hyde, sometimes they look fantastic and others they look sloppy and poor but can still grind out a win which is an important quality. They’d be favourites but depends which Belgium turns up on our chances to beat them.
I don’t think we would beat Italy, this is their tournament for me. They’ve been fantastic in the run up and during, their last match was a big wake up call for them that they can’t just ride momentum and be sloppy. I don’t see us beating them and they’re the tournament favourites for me, credit to Mancini.
I find Belgium to be a bit Jekyll and Hyde, sometimes they look fantastic and others they look sloppy and poor but can still grind out a win which is an important quality. They’d be favourites but depends which Belgium turns up on our chances to beat them.
I don’t think we would beat Italy, this is their tournament for me. They’ve been fantastic in the run up and during, their last match was a big wake up call for them that they can’t just ride momentum and be sloppy. I don’t see us beating them and they’re the tournament favourites for me, credit to Mancini.
Fair play to Ol Gareth. Got the victory however it came.
Does anyone ever wonder why so many people outside of United seem to have it in for Luke Shaw? Not just Mourinho, but pundits like Jenas were constantly berating Shaw even while he was having a great game.
He comes across as a fairly unassuming guy but he either gets flak or is simply ignored or has his contributions glossed over if he does well.
Maybe it is just the case that Shaw seriously told Jose where to go and now a lot of pundits like Jenas take offense on Mouriñho's behalf.
He comes across as a fairly unassuming guy but he either gets flak or is simply ignored or has his contributions glossed over if he does well.
Maybe it is just the case that Shaw seriously told Jose where to go and now a lot of pundits like Jenas take offense on Mouriñho's behalf.
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I’m conflicted on Southgate.
He got England to a World Cup semi final for the first time since 1990, and it looks like England are going to go a long way in this tournament for the first time since 1996. I also criticised his team selection today but tactically he was spot on. It never felt like Germany took control of the game away from England, and the line up was a big part of that.
I’ve mostly been underwhelmed by England’s performances in these last two tournaments though. I thought we were awful against Scotland, and average at best against Croatia & the Czech Republic. Back in 2018 England edged through Tunisia, beat a rookie in Panama and lost to a superior side in Belgium. We then unimpressively navigated Colombia, beat a poor Sweden side and got outclassed by Croatia.
I don’t see Southgate as a great manager but one who seems to be getting the job done in tournaments (which is far better than his predecessors tbf) but I feel like England should be playing better as a team considering the players he has available.
I’m fine with him staying on as England manager but I’d like to see better from him in terms of performance and style of play. I suppose it’s hard with national sides but we’re seeing Mancini do it with Italy.
He got England to a World Cup semi final for the first time since 1990, and it looks like England are going to go a long way in this tournament for the first time since 1996. I also criticised his team selection today but tactically he was spot on. It never felt like Germany took control of the game away from England, and the line up was a big part of that.
I’ve mostly been underwhelmed by England’s performances in these last two tournaments though. I thought we were awful against Scotland, and average at best against Croatia & the Czech Republic. Back in 2018 England edged through Tunisia, beat a rookie in Panama and lost to a superior side in Belgium. We then unimpressively navigated Colombia, beat a poor Sweden side and got outclassed by Croatia.
I don’t see Southgate as a great manager but one who seems to be getting the job done in tournaments (which is far better than his predecessors tbf) but I feel like England should be playing better as a team considering the players he has available.
I’m fine with him staying on as England manager but I’d like to see better from him in terms of performance and style of play. I suppose it’s hard with national sides but we’re seeing Mancini do it with Italy.
Before the game social media was awash with doubters giving us a slim to none chance. After the game those same people seem to be critical we didn’t play like Brazil 1970.
Or maybe, just maybe the only person with skin in the game is you, as a Utd fan.The only person who hasn’t played professional football is you. Have you ever considered that you are the common denominator in matches where you watch Shaw play and don’t feel he gets the required level of credit?
I can’t stand those kind of people
just negative through and through, if we win the Euros those people will still be criticising saying we did it the easy way and haven’t proven anything bla bla bla
you can’t win with people that are of that mentality
Maybe just maybe if we won the Euros, Southgate would be a bit more positive? The truth is I just don't think he's that sort of coach and never will be, but if we win it I'll forgive the approach.
You see it on here too, apparently he is spawny because he had an easy draw, yet the narrative 5pm yesterday was that we were done for because it was Germany.
HAHAHHAH SUCK IT
I don’t think people have it in for Shaw.
with Jenas it’s simple - he was just running with the Jose criticism. The guy doesn’t have an original thought in his head.
he constantly harps on about his times as Newcastle and spurs.
Now, you don’t need to have been a professional footballer to commentate, but if you are, and if you were mediocre like Jenas - we really don’t need his ‘insight’ especially at international level.
We’re in huge trouble if we ever go a goal down that’s for sure. Our entire game plan is to Greece the tournament.
Last night we had 5 defenders, 2 defensive mids (one who plays like an extra CB), a wing back with zero goal threat + Kane and Sterling. It worked, but it’d be a scary prospect to go behind when playing with those tactics.
Last night we had 5 defenders, 2 defensive mids (one who plays like an extra CB), a wing back with zero goal threat + Kane and Sterling. It worked, but it’d be a scary prospect to go behind when playing with those tactics.
Mirrors my feelings about him pretty well.
I can’t help feeling we should be playing a hell of a lot better than we are.
Better to be lucky than good though I guess……..
How have we been any way lucky?
At this stage, any team would be in trouble if they go a goal down
the pressure intensifies, it’s not unique to just England
It’s how you bounce back from it as well, or in other words, react
As we are yet to concede a goal in this tournament, we have yet to see how we would react, we haven’t been the most creative eye catching team yet but we’ve done enough and done it well, especially against Germany
maybe if we went a goal down it would bring the urgency for creativity out of us? We've got the weaponry
but fortunately we haven’t had too as our defence has been exceptional on the hole
When we eventually go a goal down we have all the tools to go hell for leather at a side. If Southgate takes the handbrake off. I suppose thats the question, because the options are clearly there. Hell the team that started yesterday could be more attacking if allowed.
What I'm saying is name on the trophy, its coming home.
What I'm saying is name on the trophy, its coming home.
@ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg I think I was being too harsh on Southgate yesterday. Keeping a clean sheet in all your games so far in the tournament has got to count for something and he deserves credit for that. I'm just mightily annoyed about his overly cautious gameplan since imo you could be even better if certain changes (in approach and personnel) are made, but it's all about the wins and so far it's paying dividends.
I still think he's not the right guy and you would be doing even better with a better manager, but I was being too drastic yesterday.
I still think he's not the right guy and you would be doing even better with a better manager, but I was being too drastic yesterday.
IIRC Alf Ramsey's approach was considered staid in 1966. The team laboured in the early stages, struggling to score goals, but warmed up gradually, and Alf's tactics were proved astute and victorious.
I was talking more about Southgate’s tenure thus far.
Had a fortunate draw in the World Cup and looks like a pretty easy ride to the final this time as well. Germany is a tough game for sure though, even though they aren’t as good as they used to be.
We fully deserved to win last night and I’m happy we finally managed to beat Germany , but it’s tempered with a feeling that we should be much better than we’ve shown.
We've not needed to be exceptional so far, and if we go through the whole tournament without needing to be and win it no one will care.
Italy would be the hardest match. Mancini is the best manager in the competition and they absolutely dominate the ball. Spain I don’t think have the killer edge to be too scary. Belgium would be the easiest. Maguire would dominate Lukaku and their defence is poor.
England would probably be underdogs in the final against every team bar Switzerland imo. Have the easiest road there although I don't think it's gonna be the cakewalk some think it is. Denmark or Czech Republic will be difficult opponents.
No easy games although already beaten Czech Republic pretty comfortably
There has been nothing lucky about England's success in this tournament at all. In every game we've created the best chances and defended very well.
The xG for England's goals last night were 0.66 and 0.47. Germany's biggest chances were 0.33 & 0.37, the latter being conceded by an unforced defensive error. In last night's game a draw or a defeat for England wouldn't have been a robbery by any means but on the balance of probabilities you'd expect England to win. The xG overall was pretty even between the two team but one quirk is that Harry Kane had a big chance where he didn't manage to get a shot off so that wasn't counted in the xG. Worth noting too that the threshold for a 'big chance' is 0.38xG so England technically still hasn't conceded a 'big chance' in the tournament yet, although Germany got very close to that threshold a couple of times.
http://www.soccer-blogger.com/2021/...hots-map-england-2-0-deutschland-match-stats/
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For the other games
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This is what a 'lucky' victory looks like
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Belgium have probably been the 'luckiest' team in this tournament
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The term 'lucky' doesn't apply to England so far, 'controlled' or 'conservative' perhaps.
This side played very attacking football in the qualifiers and we have loads of attacking depth so we can change tactics if need be.
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I used to feel like this several years ago
but now I appreciate especially in an international tournament, that it doesn’t have to be eye candy football, and actually that eye candy football can be difficult at National level, not impossible of course as we’ve seen from other Nations over the decades but eye candy doesn’t always win either, it’s just about being solid
it’s a bonus if eye candy can also be solid, but not a necessity, England are solid and very good at it.
I suppose when you look at the flair we have in individual players that we’ve got, it can be frustrating to see them reserved in a sense, but all that in general is pushed to the side when the job is getting done
and it’s certainly getting done thus far, we are so hard to beat, that’s a huge statement at this level
Definitely true, although I feel like they have grown into the tournament (or maybe the Dutch were just very poor on the day, or maybe both
).You should be feeling pretty good about your chances to get to the final of course. Massive opportunity.
Or maybe England, despite being underwhelming on the eye, are alot tougher to play against than some give credit?Definitely true, although I feel like they have grown into the tournament (or maybe the Dutch were just very poor on the day, or maybe both
You should be feeling pretty good about your chances to get to the final of course. Massive opportunity.
Dispatched both Czech Republic and Croatia comfortably yet Spain conceded 3 and were wobbled against Croatia and the Dutch easily beaten by the Czechs.
Who knows.
Obviously never good to go a goal down but the flip side of this is that we have a lot of great attacking players who offer something different, from the bench.
Graelish, Sancho, Foden, Rashford, Mount.
Probably not the most difficult to switch round either considering both Tripper and Walker were on the pitch.
Let's hope it doesn't get to that anyway.
Our Group definitely looks better now in hindsight like you said.
Croatia took Spain to extra time and if not for a great save early on Croatia would have gone 4-3 up and it's totally different. Plus the Czechs deservedly beat the Dutch. Scotland of course are shite but still a pretty decent group in hindsight.
We did well to get through it with minimal fuss.
I think being able to subs 5 players played a part in his decision with that line up. If things got desperate, you can always swap half your outfield players to try and change the tactics
Way to completely miss the point there.At this stage, any team would be in trouble if they go a goal down
We’ve literally just seen two sides come back from 2 goals down. Difference was, those sides weren’t completely set up to keep a clean sheet with very little creativity. We saw versus Scotland just how shite we were at trying to switch it around mid game.
Once Bellingham becomes a starter, the team will go up a level.
Didn’t work very well for us when we made changes versus Scotland though. Always very difficult to switch it up so drastically mid game. We also completely lost all shape in the final group game once we made changes and didn’t improve in attacking sense either. Against better opposition that kind of loss of shape could really punish us.
That’s why I worry.
No, it was a very very controlled and professional performance. I don't think you understood the performance and the team selection.
It was obviously not to lose the game in the first 45-60 minutes and staying in the game, knowing you have something that other teams don't, an amazing bench.